Dr. Stephen Matteson retires from Dental School

Dr. Matteson

The Department of Dental Diagnostic Science has lost
longtime professor and chair Dr. Stephen Matteson, who retired from
the Health Science Center on May 31. Dr. Matteson joined the Health
Science Center in 1988, following a distinguished academic career at
the University of North Carolina (UNC) School of Dentistry and the
Department of Oral Radiology in UNC's School of Medicine. He received
his D.D.S. degree from the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental
Medicine and completed a residency in oral radiology at the University
of Connecticut Health Center in Farmington.

Dr. Matteson stepped down from the chairmanship in
March but has continued to teach. He will return as part-time faculty
and continue to work on research projects. Dr. John Preece has been
appointed interim chair and a search is under way to find a permanent
replacement.

During his tenure with the dental diagnostic
department, Dr. Matteson saw significant faculty and staff
development. He recruited world-renowned authorities in oral medicine
and saw many of his graduate students become faculty members
themselves. He is justifiably proud of his department's
accomplishments in digital imaging.

In about a year, he estimates, patient records will be
paperless and x-rays "filmless," as the department's imaging
facilities are made state-of-the-art. "I'm leaving the department
in an excellent position for a new leader to step in," he said.
"I will miss the people here, but I'm coming back part time, so I
can stay affiliated with the group."

Dr. Matteson is looking forward to doing more school
mentoring and volunteer work with his church. He and his wife, Dr.
Mary Ann Matteson, chair in the Department of Family Nursing Care,
also plan to spend time with their daughters and grandchildren here.